Tbaction-belt



J. E. eaoss.

TRACTION BELT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I I. 1918.

SHEET Patented June 3 J. E. GROSS.

TRACTION B ELT. APPLICATION FILED JULY I 7. 1918.

Patented June 3, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mum/70R V 6 1 1 0 6 if J ATTfl/F/VE) I. E. GROSS.

TRACTION BELT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. 1918.

Patented June 3, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

; s TATEs,

' To all whom may mam.-

PATENT OFFICE.

J' GROSS, F WALLA. WALLA, WASHINGTON.

. Be it known thatI, JOHN E. Gross, a citiyzen of the Unitedstates, residing at Walla alla, in the county of Walla .Walla and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .Traction- Belts, of which-the fOllOWiIlg 1s .a' SPBClfiCfition. I

p This invention relates to tractors and other motor vehicles of the self-laying. track or .v ca-terpillar type,"and more'particularlyto the track bywhich propulsion is efi'ected.

- combination and arrangement :I The object of the invention is to provide a traction unit of the kind, stated which 18 light, strong 'and durable, and w th this object in view, the inven ion consists in a novel of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is bad to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part ofthis specification, and in said'drawin'gs,

Figure l'is an elevation of the traction unit; p

Fig. 2-is a plan view of a fragment ofthe belt-111* j Fi" .-i3=is a cross setionion the line 3-3 f -2; "-Figg tis a erosssection on the line 14 of.-Fig'."1;"

Fig. 5 is anelevation of a fragment of a I modified form of belt;

' the belt shown inFig. 9.

Fig. 6" is a plan view thereof; Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross section of another modification;

Fig. 9 is an elevation showing another form of traction unit; n

Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line 10-10 Fig. 11 is a plan view of a fragment of Referring specifically to the drawings, the traction unit is a flat endlessbelt formed of a single wire cable 10 wlnch 1s hellcally wound,'with the convolutlons. closely together and laid side by side, the length of the cable being such as to obtain of belt of the desired width. The cable is held in this 11 and 12, respectively.' These plates are 4 v H I TRACTION- BELT. 1,305 280 Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented J line 3, 1919. Application filed July 17, 1918. Serial No. 245,297.

seats, and the bottom plate 12 seats over this channel. By means of bolts 14 the .plates'll and 12 are fastened togetherto clam the cable therebetween the bolts bein orced between the convolutions of the cab e.

To the under side of each bottom plate 12 is bolted erotherwisesecured a tooth 15, v

the bolts. 16 also passing between the convolutions of the cablelO, and through the top plate 11.

By the structure hereinbefore described a be employed, and give great rigidityto The peripheries of the disks have and spacing-to the width and spacing of the bars 12. The cable belt 10 is trained over the wheel, with the bars 12 seating in the indentations, where thii belt passes over the wheel. The periphefies'of'the disks are outwardly flanged as shown at 20 to obtain in dentations 19 of sufficient width.

' The two disks 17 are rigidly connected in laterally spaced relation; by cross bolts 21,

.on which are spacing sleeves 21 and the latter in turn carry anti-friction rollers 22.

The teeth 15 are positioned at the middle of the belt 10 and the rollers 22Jare so spaced that when fthebelt is properly trained over the disks 17; the teeth are positioned between the disks so as to engage the rollers. The motion of the driver is therefore transmitted to the belt in the same manner as a spiocket-and-chain gearing. As the bars 12 seat in the indentations 19 much strain is taken off the teeth 15.

The drive and supporting wheels are carried on shafts 23" and 24:, respectively, supported in bearings 25 on a frame 26. One of the bearings is provided with a tightener 27., The lower run of the belt 10 travels over idler wheels 28 having indentations for the plates 12.

Thefcross plates 11 form the tread of the belt. 10. belt form by top and bottom clamping plates I Figs. 5 7 show a tread composed of cross plates 29 set closely together to overlap,'- one edge of each plate being slightly ofiset upwardly as shown at 30 to overlap the adjacent edge of the next plate. These plates have bent down ends 31 to confine the conjunction with tread plates 36 similar to those hereinbefore described. The bottom plates are dispensed with and the cable is clamped between the teeth 37 and the tread plates, the base of each tooth having a clip 38 to hold the cable. The clips 38 may be integral with or separate from the teeth 37.

Figs. 9 toll show another modification.

Here the cable 39 is clamped between top and bottom plates 40 and. T1, respectively,

as in the first described structure. Each bottom plate 41 carries a plate l2 having out turned ends 43. This plate l2 has the same function as the teeth 15. The drive and supporting wheels. H have indentations if) in their peripheries to seatthe plates 42, and the width of the wheels is such that the ends l3 of the plates come alongside the same, thereby preventing the belt from slipping off sidewise.

The advantage of a belt composed of an endless cable arranged in the manner described is that a light cable may be employed, strength being obtained through the many convolutions arranged side by side rather than by a large cable. The necessary rigidity of the teeth is obtainedbythe cross plates. The stretch is equal. and no individual adjustment of the cables is necessary, all necessary adjustment being effected by the tightener 27. As a small cable has greater flexibility than a large one, there is less appreciable wear to the cable in the continuous bending incident to passing around the curves of the drive and supporting wheels, and the greater flexibility of the belt enables the tractor to negotiatesofter ground than heretofore, and with less traction effort.

I claim:

1. A traction belt composed of a. flexible cable helically wound with the convolutions laid side by side, and top and bottom cross members between which the cable is clamped laid in the manner stated.

2. A traction belt composed of a plurality of strands of flexible cable laid side by side, top and bottom cross members between which said strands are clamped, and an outstanding drive tooth .on the bottom cross member, in combination with a driving wheel comprising a pair of laterally spaced disks, and cross members connecting said disks, the peripheries of the disks having indentations to seat the aforesaid bottom cross members of the belt and the teeth engaging the cross members between the disks.

3. A traction belt composed of a series of top and bottom cross members flexibly connected, and an outstanding drive tooth on the bottom cross member, in combination with a driving wheel comprising a pair of laterally spaced disks, and cross members connecting said disks, the peripheries of the disks having indentations to seat the aforesaid bottom cross members of the belt and the teeth engaging the cross members between the disks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN E. GROSS. 

